Who: In reality, Brandon’s Kervens Joseph is an intelligent, multitalented producer, actor and performer, raised as the only boy among nine kids in Miami’s Little Haiti. Onstage, he’s Acafool, an outsized, crowd-pleasing persona - part Kanye West, part Lil’ Jon. Shady character: For Acafool, the future’s so bright he’s gotta wear shades. His hit single Hata Blockas is a reference to his large sunglasses, designed to block out the “haters” of the world. (Sample lyric: “I got my hata blockas on/You can step up out my way, ‘cause y’all in my zone.”) Cleverly, he’s ordered more than 2,000 inscribed pairs to sell and hand out in clubs. Behind the scenes: By day, Joseph teaches audio production at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa. He says it keeps him grounded. “A lot of students are aware that Kervens is Acafool,” says the rapper, who has a psychology degree from the University of South Florida. “I just try to separate the two and make my class as fun as possible.” From stage to screen: Joseph has acted in plays at USF and in local theaters, and still hopes to make it as an actor. “The plan is, get in the door with music, and the door for acting will open as well,” he said. |
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